Whistler Cornucopia 2005

[Edible Vancouver]

^Just make sure you get a picture of the white roses in penis-shaped ice sculptures.

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I have been taking lots of photos and will be sure to have many more from the Bearfoot and Araxi later tonight.

Enjoyed a great lunch put on by the Bins (941 and 942) in a private home today along with about 40 other people. Great food and wine and the backdrop of watching the snow pile up!

I will report again tomorrow.

Cheers,

Eric

[jamiemaw]

In any event, I've had some fun today. Bumped into Keith Nicholson from Nu setting up for the Canadian Heroes tasting of B.C. and Ontario wines. Tom Doughty is up here, too (as are Gismondi and Pawsey). Haven't seen Jamie Maw but did a twirl around the trade tasting with the lovely and talented lauraf.

Andrew,

I chose not to attend Tourism Whistler's Cornucopia this year in order to celebrate two landmark family birthdays.

But perhaps I also had second thoughts.

I congratulate Chris Coletta and her crew, as well as the many participating wine merchants, local businesses and volunteers for reorganizing the event. They've made it more meaningful by using mainly BC presenters (the hilarious Josh Wesson is a notable exception--please say hello).

But I’m not sure that the event fulfills one of its underlying mandates: to promote the culinary scene at Whistler.

The backstory: Years ago, Cornucopia was launched (together with a short-lived program called Christmas in November that mainly attracted chardonnay-swilling soccer moms from the Caulfield Plateau) to fill beds during the slow November shoulder season. It worked and many restaurants participated in the Saturday evening wine dinners. Of course a number of others were closed for staff holidays.

This year, with the early snowfall, from that aspect at least, the event is less important. But that’s a sidebar.

Importantly, this is one of the few (and perhaps only) opportunities that culinary, wine and general media have to visit Whistler. Typically though, their exposure to the culinary scene is restricted to one Winemaker’s Dinner, a brunch at the Chateau and a lot of passed food. Not the best exposure for what are, after all, some very good restaurants and farms. For instance, I doubt you made the snowy drive for the express purpose of dining at Earls. By the way Fifty Two 80 is open for lunch.

For local food journalists, though, it's a bit of a boondoggle. What's the story-line? Great party? I had a great time drinking Jack's wine and you (dear reader) didn't? I saw the barenaked ladies? Be sure to come next year?

As a wine event, it works; but as a food event, it works much less well. Especially given the fact that for most of the participating restaurants, it’s a breakeven at best, when (especially this weekend) they could be filling their rooms with more profitable customers. Or so the local grumble goes.

One year, we helped organized a showcase, where about 18 restaurants showcased at The Westin during the Trade Day afternoon, exclusively for the media. Unfortunately, that program was dropped.

What do I think would help cure the problem?

Several things:

1. Get the Chefs’ Showcase moving again;

2. Instead of static winemakers' dinners for the media, organize progressive dinners on two nights.

3. Reposition the timing of the event for summer (like Aspen), a time when all the restaurants are open and the weather would logically allow for outdoor venues to be used and the mountain (and pemberton Valley farms) to be shown off to true advantage, especially to the international media that occasionally show up.

After five or six consecutive visits as a corporate sponsor, our time at Cornucopia began to look like Groundhog Day. Better to give up my bunk for someone new to the event, methinks, and I'm glad that you and others will be filing your reports.

On the other hand, or at least with it, I'll be raising a glass to my brother and mother.

Cheers and enjoy,

Jamie

PS: And very shortly, I suspect, you'll know the real reason they call it Crush!

Edited November 12, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

[Zucchini Mama]

I'm back at the Chateau now. The hotel is getting swamped with some serious weekend traffic. The snow has been falling like mad so there are lots of people carrying boards and skis about. I'm always underdressed for every occasion, and I've failed miserably as far as winter gear is concerned. I'm wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and desert boots. Smart.

Wish you were all here. 

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Dearest Andrew, our intrepid eG reporter. You need to get yourself an intrepid reporter wardrobe, and I don't mean Lloyd Robertson's windbreaker and penny loafers. Sorels, my son.

Yes boyz, please take lots of pictures, especially of the women's swimming nude in chocolate event, which I vote for as the olympic sport eGullet sponsors in 2010. I think I could be a contendah!

Shucks OG, Keep your eyes on the oysters. We don't want you to lose any appendages!

Zuke

[*Deborah*]

Waiting, with (nearly) bated breath.

I am drinking Jack Daniel's black label at Sun Peaks, running an errand for the parental units who provide me with so many many lovely dinners...

Wrong mountain, I see. I am happy to report that the Wiener Schnitzel at Powderhounds is still quite good, and I had a pretty nice Sumac Ridge Meritage with it. But it's not Whistler, is it.

I do look forward to all of your reports! Jamie, insightful commentary. I have been curious about the Cornucopia, but never managed to budget it in. I reckon my personal dollars are probably better spent at the Cru dinner on Sunday, and the HSG dinner next week.

Fingers crossed that Andrew is somehow able to find a way to keep warm, and not catch cold with his seemingly insufficient wardrobe. Dude! it's cold out there!

Oyster Guy, yes, please, eyes on the matter at hand. Or you'll cut yourself like Doug Psaltis, and then who KNOWS what might happen.

[Andrew Morrison]

Hammered. Jesus. Someone help me.

[Oyster Guy]

Not to fear. I opened 1300 oysters in a mere 4 hours tonight for a very appreciative audience. Yes, things were chaotic for a time at the entrance and there was a lineup but this was due to the fire marshall miscalculating the number of people actually inside the venue.

It was a fantastic party. Lots of great wines were poured, "porno" prawn and chip cones (served in cones made from Hustler magazine) served with mini game burgers, sushi off naked women's bodies, chocolate penis (what is the plural of penis anyways?), chocolate breasts and of course, strawberries that you dip in chocolate yourself.

Oh, I didn't even get a single scratch from the knife or shell tonight.

I appreciate all the concern shown by my fellow egulleters and I truly feel the love.

I will write more about the event tomorrow when (and if) I wake up.

Till then,

Keep on shucking

Oyster Guy

P.S. Memo, I will talk to the chef tomorrow about your question and get back to you.

Edited November 12, 2005 by Oyster Guy (log)

[appreciator]

Wow! What a night.

Sounds like quite the party... with the Hustler magazine chip cones and naked women as serving platters for sushi... the demographic for this event is abundantly clear.

Too bad they had to cancel the tigers...

But thank gawd for the good wine!

P.S. On a more serious note: Way to shuck'em OG... 1300 in four hours is, indeed, impressive. And glad to hear that you managed to go unscathed.

Edited November 12, 2005 by appreciator (log)

[jamiemaw]

Not to fear. I opened 1300 oysters in a mere 4 hours tonight for a very

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Well done, OG. I judged at the Slurp and Swirl at Joe Fortes the other night. The winning times (with penalties) averaged just over two minutes for 18 oysters, but it's a sprint. Even if these mother shuckers could maintain that pace (say about 500 oysters per hour), which they can't, that's about 2,000 oysters in four hours.

So your oyster triathalon looks pretty sharp to me. How are your hands?

Upthread I made a point about the exposure of local restaurants to Cornucopia visitors and media other than at wine dinners. But I believe that there was a Slow Food luncheon today at The Westin (perhaps outside of the sanctioned events--I couldn't find it on the Tourism Whistler/Cornucopia website). Its intention, I believe, was to knit together local growers, restaurants and visitors--terrific.

Any news on this event? And do you think local the local culinary scene and restaurants get the exposure they deserve?

Jamie

Edited November 12, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

[Oyster Guy]

I am sorry that I couldn't attend (compete in) the Joe Forte's event as it would have been a pleasure to meet you in person Jamie, but the amount of prep required for an event like that demanded my immediate attention.

I like to do it for the charity (I'm a soft touch that way) but as a real shucking competition goes, it lacks what is most important to most oyster shuckers.

Recognition on a national or international scale amongst our peers.

I have been in over 60 oyster shucking competitions so far but there are only a couple that I make sure I compete in year after year.

My best time in a competition was 1:37 for 18 oysters. (not that I'm bragging)

Back to the topic for I digress............

The Slow Food event is indeed outside of the Cornucopia event and is headed up by Astrid Cameron of Astrid's Fine Foods (a very reliable and great supplier)

They have done events in the Pemberton Valley which involved cycling to various farms in the areas and visting with the actual growers and getting an education as well as exercise.

It appears that Tourism Whistler seems to be a little reluctant to throw it's full weight behind this organization though.

Hopefully they will see the benefit of associating this group with the event as I think it would certainly round it out a little better.

I find that the local culinary scene (at least in threads in this forum) tend to concentrate too much on the big guys here and hardly anything on the cool little local spots.

Do a little exploring off the beaten track here and you can sometimes find a real gem.

Anyways, I will write more tomorrow or later tonight after I finish up at the Bearfoot Bistro winemakers dinner.

The dinner features 4 decades of Dom and I will post the menu here.

The oysters I will be serving tonight will be.....

The "Cortesean" from Marina Island, B.C. and was farmed by Brent Petkau (The Oysterman) and it truly a gem amongst oysters.

I will also be serving the small but delectable Beausoliel oyster from Negauc, New Brunswick.

I'll let you know how things go.

Till Then

Keep on shucking

Oyster Guy

P.S. My hands are fine but my wrist is a little sore.

Thanx for asking.

Edited November 12, 2005 by Oyster Guy (log)

[Andrew Morrison]

And do you think local the local culinary scene and restaurants get the exposure they deserve?

No. It's all about Bearfoot and naked women getting dipped in chocolate. I'm not at all being facetious, and it's a sentiment I've gleaned swimming in varied circles over the last couple of days.

Everything feels peripheral to Andre's annual ejaculate. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time last night and my eyes were wider than they've ever been. The music was good and the place was hopping, but I've been writing for most of the day and my thoughts keep returning to a point I find tricky to refute. The Cornucopia I had hoped for was highjacked by the glitzfest.

There were some wonderful seminars and I thoroughly enjoyed the Araxi after-party. I was introduced to some new vintages at the trade tasting and I was able to share in my delight with some great company, but everything seemed clouded by a child-like fixation with the "excesses" of Masquerave. Even Crush, the gala centrepiece, seemed a mere addendum to it. To me at least, the shebang ended up coming across like a circle jerk play written and financed by reckless adolescents armed with nuclear-powered penis pumps. Not really my scene.

Perhaps I'm just getting boring...

Edited November 12, 2005 by Andrew Morrison (log)

[PlanitV]

This'll be the first Cornucopia that I will have missed since being involved in the organization of the very first one way back when.

I must say that although my heart is still with the concept of a food and wine fest at Whistler, I agree with Jamie when he suggested a change of season. The Pemberton/Darcy growing season just begs for more visitors and the restaurants now closed for staff breaks before the REAL season starts at the resort would be open and pleased for guests who appreciate their efforts after a visit to a farm.

Seems to me like Cornucopia is needing a bit of refresh. I still remember the mushroom seminar given by Richard (can't remember his last name - ex chef for Umberto) who made one pine mushroom flavour a soup for a room full of enthusiastic foragers all while instructing us on how to properly and sustainably harvest the noble local fungi. This kind of workshop is now being offered by the Slow Food folks, I assume.

...ahhh, now that was real food! that was a real seminar! and the wine was tasty, too.

Looking forward to everyone's photos - except the chocolate dipped women if they are there this year.

Wendy

[~cayenne~]

And do you think local the local culinary scene and restaurants get the exposure they deserve?

No. It's all about Bearfoot and naked women getting dipped in chocolate. I'm not at all being facetious, and it's a sentiment I've gleaned swimming in varied circles over the last couple of days.

Everything feels peripheral to Andre's annual ejaculate. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time last night and my eyes were wider than they've ever been. The music was good and the place was hopping, but I've been writing for most of the day and my thoughts keep returning to a point I find tricky to refute. The Cornucopia I had hoped for was highjacked by the glitzfest.

There were some wonderful seminars and I thoroughly enjoyed the Araxi after-party. I was introduced to some new vintages at the trade tasting and I was able to share in my delight with some great company, but everything seemed clouded by a child-like fixation with the "excesses" of Masquerave. Even Crush, the gala centrepiece, seemed a mere addendum to it. To me at least, the shebang ended up coming across like a circle jerk play written and financed by reckless adolescents armed with nuclear-powered penis pumps. Not really my scene.

Perhaps I'm just getting boring...

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Well, in the news feature last week about the tigers being cancelled, the event was referred to as Pornucopia.

Edited November 13, 2005 by ~cayenne~ (log)

[Andrew Morrison]

Damn, I was going to use the word "Pornotopia" in my story. Thanks for the heads up.

Just returned from a fascinating, informative, and very humorous seminar on Pinot Noir hosted by James Nevison and Joshua Wesson. I'd met James before, but never Joshua. The guy is a constant crack-up. Who knew wine could be so amusing? Everyone is very hung over from last night, and to be honest, the last thing I wanted to do today was another eight wines. These guys brought me back to my fighting weight and I'm ready for more.

Back to the hotel now for some water on my face before heading down to Araxi for the Big Guns dinner.

How the hell to I post photos again? If anyone has the time and the inclination, please PM me some instructions tailored to the technically challenged!

Wish you were all here.

[James Kendal]

Andrew,

Joshua Wesson is awesome. He and Larry Stone are the tops in my world for wine.

What Pinot's were they talking about and did anyone pipe up about the over-extraction with the majority of new world Pinots?

Anyway, Pornotopia sounds pretty strange. Sounds like you needed to wear sunglasses so your wife doesn't catch you staring

[Andrew Morrison]

They did touch on over-extraction, but whenever Wesson had the mike he'd just riff hilariously.

We tasted the following - no notes, so please excuse spelling and my poor memory:

The new Corduniu Pinot Rose (did this just come on the market?)

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir from New Zealand (lovely)

Moillard Mercurey from Burgundy

Valdivieso Pinot Noir from Chile

Caymus Pinot Noir (!) Never seen this before Crush last night. Caymus makes a Pinot? Santa Barbara. Lots of alcohol and tannins for a Pinot.

Domain Drouhin Pinot Noir from Oregon (awesome)

I'm sure there are others, but be gentle with my taxed state. I'm surprised I even made it down to the village today. Edible Eric was there, too.

Perhaps he took his notes with him....

[drinkingchef]

The Cordoniu Rose has been on the market for at least a year. I love it. Bubbly rose for $20. How can you beet that. It has actually gone up in price since I first tried it. I think it used to be 17.99. Great value in my opinion. I have seen it the liquor store on Alberni @ Thurlow

[jamiemaw]

Andrew,

Joshua Wesson is awesome. He and Larry Stone are the tops in my world for wine.

What Pinot's were they talking about and did anyone pipe up about the over-extraction with the majority of new world Pinots?

Anyway, Pornotopia sounds pretty strange. Sounds like you needed to wear sunglasses so your wife doesn't catch you staring

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At earlier Cornucopiae, Josh put on a seminar that matched wines with Big Macs. His famous book, Red Wine with Fish --due to a pitched battle with his co-author, David Rosengarten--was published in 1989 but, despite its ongoing popularity, remains out of print but is available through Amazon for about US$70 plus shipping. His immaculate ba-da-bing timing can be ascribed to the fact that his father was a Borscht Belt comedian. He remains one of the best dinner companions I know of.

I note that our Whistler correspondents have gone silent. Apparently the Big Guns were not silenced.

Edited November 13, 2005 by jamiemaw (log)

[Andrew Morrison]

Just got back in town and will tell of last night later this evening. For now, I am lord of the lego until my boys pass out.

At Araxi, the Big Guns used both barrels, no question. One of the finest meals I've had in B.C.

[Memo]

Please, please - while you're at the Bearfoot, can you check out the Jamon Iberico on their menu?

They're the only restaurant in North America selling this stuff.

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Well I'll be darned (and sorry for being, momentarily, off-topic).

I make the common mistake of many Canadians - and forget to include our neighbour (on the other side of the elephant) Mexico, when I make blanket statements about North America.

It seems Jamon Iberico is available in norteamericano. Just got an email from a friend in Mexico, who has discovered a cured leg in the local SAMS mega-store! The sales clerk, however, was claiming it was "yes - great... and cured for 30 years!"

Memo